Oh my, was this really fourteen years ago (give or take a few days)? Look at my little bonny first born. How did she grow so quickly. Only yesterday she was 21 months old and we were in Dorset:
Then she was three and had a baby brother to play with:
and five before we knew it. She knew that she was a princess though:
almost seven and another baby brother:
and then pretty soon she was nine and had moved to the countryside where we are today.
And today she's 14 and I'm wondering where those years went and why they went so quickly.
We had a lovely breakfast this morning with Tom who had taken the day off as he is away in Paris this weekend. Take a look at some of Amber's lovely presents.
This is from Raj (with a little help from Daddy) - it's a CD case made from old floorboards and finished off with walnut oil:
a padded pinboard made by Rohan (with a little help from Mummy):
here's a close-up because I just love the fabric and the pins we used:
matching doorstop made by moi:
and while I was at it a pencil roll too:
the inside of which:
Ofcourse, she's got lots of other bits and bobs too - her main present being an i-pod dock with speakers. I also got her some books on behalf of my parents - Cold Comfort Farm and Love In A Cold Climate and some Friends videos to add to her collection. I think you could safely say that she's got a bit of everything really. So it just leaves me to say Happy Birthday to my dear daughter. I know we have our little ups and downs Amby but I do love you so very much.
Sorry for the hasty post but Tom and I spent a lovely, but rather long morning going around salvage yards leaving me with about an hour to make the birthday cake (which is in the oven at the moment). So I'd better dash .....................
PS there is a tutorial on how to make the pinboard on my sidebar.
Fantastic Birthday!
How sweet.. and I love the handmade gifts! Happy Birthday Amber!
Posted by: bethany | October 11, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Fantastic Birthday!
How sweet.. and I love the handmade gifts! Happy Birthday Amber!
Posted by: bethany | October 11, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Happy Birthday Amber. Enjoy being fourteen. There'll be lots of 'parental' things and personal angst... but, mostly enjoy being you. Love and Light.
Posted by: Liz | October 11, 2007 at 06:21 PM
Happy Birthday Amber! I love the pencil roll and pinboard and the fabrics are delicious. Hope you all have a happy day x
Posted by: Lesley | October 11, 2007 at 07:22 PM
Happy birthday Amber (love your brothers' thoughtful gifts).
Posted by: Ali | October 11, 2007 at 09:15 PM
Oh, happy birthday Amber! I hope you have all had a fabulous day. It is a wonderful day for a birthday - both my smaller daughter and my much missed mother-in-law share this special day!
Posted by: dottycookie | October 11, 2007 at 09:56 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBER !!!
: )
Posted by: lyn | October 11, 2007 at 10:11 PM
What a beautiful young lady you have now! They do grow way too fast!..but turn out so well. Enjoy the birthday and all your blessings!
Posted by: carolyn | October 11, 2007 at 10:53 PM
Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter. It seems that you have very talented children too, making such lovely gifts for her birthday. The time does seem to go by so quickly too doesnt it, and even faster with the next one as well. I will have to check out your tutorial too for the pinboard, it looks quite pretty.
Posted by: Sue | October 11, 2007 at 10:57 PM
Happy Birthday Amber! It sounds like it was a very special day. I love all the photos of you over the years. Sarah
ps: Helen sends her birthday wishes to you as well!
Posted by: sarah | October 11, 2007 at 11:11 PM
Happy Birthday Amber!
Kind regards,
Sonnja from the Netherlands
Posted by: Sonnja | October 12, 2007 at 05:39 AM
Happy Birthday! What fab presents too.
Posted by: Ruth | October 12, 2007 at 08:53 AM
Happy Birthday! What fab presents too.
Posted by: Ruth | October 12, 2007 at 08:55 AM
Belated birthday wishes to Amber. What lovely gifts! You truly have a very talented family Simmy. Time certainly does fly. My son is 9 years old and it seems like minutes ago that I was sitting in the hospital ward...........
Posted by: simone | October 12, 2007 at 09:33 AM
happy birthday to your gorgeous girl, what lovely photos, and she has some great presents, the cd rack is a great recycling idea, and I'm just off to check out the pinboard tutorail.
Posted by: driftwood | October 12, 2007 at 09:42 AM
I love birthdays! Can't believe it, can you? Next year-15! Amber is so beautiful. I would(almost) kill to have hair and a beautiful smile like hers and her mum. Your boys are quite handsome too. You think you are busy now. Wait until your children use those gorgeous eyes to catch the attention of someone they like.
Anyway, it sounds like you all had a good celebration. I wish Amber happiness and best wishes.
Posted by: Rada | October 12, 2007 at 01:41 PM
Happy birthday Amber, the best presis are those not only given but also made with love.
Posted by: joy | October 12, 2007 at 11:35 PM
Grace turned 14 this year as well. It is certainly a year with its own special challenges! Hope that Amber has a year full of opportunity!
Posted by: Mae | October 13, 2007 at 02:01 AM
Belated Happy Birthday Amber, may you have a long and happy life, full of good health and dreams come true. If you are anything like my 14yr old, you won't believe this, but you are... beautiful:)
Posted by: Lunar | October 13, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Happy birthday to her - love the photos of her as she grew up - but none of her now? :) My firstborn was 10 a few weeks ago - who knew time could go so fast...
Posted by: Kate | October 13, 2007 at 10:48 PM
Happy Birthday Amber! I loved seeing all the pictures of her growing up to this point. what beautiful children you have. And lucky Amber to have received such lovely gifts! You are such a talented lady Simmy, and a wonderful wife and mother. Your family is so lucky to have you in their lives, but I expect it works both ways as you are very lucky to have them as well. God bless you all! xxoo
Posted by: Marie | October 14, 2007 at 07:42 AM
Happy Birthday Amber. What a lovely collection of special birthday presents.
Marie x
Posted by: marie | October 14, 2007 at 02:46 PM
What a sweet post - a very nice birthday present in itself! The handmade gifts are wonderful - something to enjoy now and later in life.
Cold Comfort Farm is the best, hope she enjoys it!
Posted by: heather | October 15, 2007 at 12:04 AM
Happy belated birthday Amber and happy becoming a mother anniversary to you Simmy. It's quite an adventure isn't it.
Posted by: little jenny wren | October 15, 2007 at 04:12 AM
happy birthday amber!! love the pins on the board and the doorstop is so superb!! :)
Posted by: esther | October 15, 2007 at 09:41 AM
happy birthday to both of you groovy girls!!!! x
Posted by: louise | October 15, 2007 at 07:00 PM
Belated Happy birthday Amber - what a beauty you've grown up to be. What wonderful presents - all so special because of the love that went into crafting them. Enjoy being 14!
Posted by: julie | October 16, 2007 at 09:56 AM
happy belated birthday amber!!
and simmy,thanks for showing those photos. your children are beautiful!
and all those nice presents you made...
Posted by: mela | October 16, 2007 at 02:54 PM
What precious pictures. You all made cute babies. LOL
Posted by: Angela | October 17, 2007 at 02:44 AM
Belated Happy Birthday to Amber - she's a year and a day older than my eldest son :0)
Posted by: dottyspots | October 24, 2007 at 11:00 PM